A Glorious Live/Work Pad in a Former L.A. Church Just Listed for $3.25M

The Ruby Street is an eclectic example of adaptive reuse in Highland Park, Los Angeles.

The Ruby Street is a contemporary live/work/event space located inside a historic 1905 building that has led many past lives—it served as both a civil rights meeting place and a progressive church founded by a female pastor.

In 2016, singer and designer Lourdes Hernandez and her husband, musician and real estate developer Zach Leigh, discovered the church and picked up on its "good bones and potential." The couple snapped up the nearly 6,000-square-foot space and orchestrated its sparkling metamorphosis.

The somewhat prosaic exterior of the former church belies its surprising interiors. 

The somewhat prosaic exterior of the former church belies its surprising interiors. 

The design team preserved the awe-inspiring stained glass windows. 

The design team preserved the awe-inspiring stained glass windows. 

The space has a contemporary look with light wood flooring, a preserved cathedral ceiling, white gallery walls, and bold furnishings.

The space has a contemporary look with light wood flooring, a preserved cathedral ceiling, white gallery walls, and bold furnishings.

The renovation preserved the church’s shell, cathedral ceiling, and glowing stained-glass windows while creating a lovely, light-filled interior. The space is perfect for hosting all sorts of events, including weddings—in fact, The Ruby Street has hosted over 200 ceremonies in the past four years, one of which was the wedding of Hernandez and Leigh, who were married after the renovation was completed.    

The Ruby Street has played host to countless private events, performances, dinner parties, photoshoots, and over 200 weddings.

The Ruby Street has played host to countless private events, performances, dinner parties, photoshoots, and over 200 weddings.

The Ruby Street could easily serve as an event space or a creative office.

The Ruby Street could easily serve as an event space or a creative office.

There are multiple private suites located off the main living area. 

There are multiple private suites located off the main living area. 

In addition to the wide open space where a congregation used to sit, there is a large room with a bar that can fit long tables and lots of diners, and a couple of cozy "suites." Downstairs, The Ruby Street has an additional 1,900-square-foot open-plan living quarters with a full bathroom and a kitchen. There is even a lush, private backyard. Now, the stunning space is on the market for $3,249,000. Scroll ahead for a look inside.

The flexible floor plan allows for multiple environments in one expansive space. 

The flexible floor plan allows for multiple environments in one expansive space. 

A view into the former chapel. 

A view into the former chapel. 

A spacious room can accommodate long dining tables—perfect for hosting private dinner parties or weddings.

A spacious room can accommodate long dining tables—perfect for hosting private dinner parties or weddings.

The design maintained the original bathrooms. 

The design maintained the original bathrooms. 

The interior of one of the upstairs bathrooms. 

The interior of one of the upstairs bathrooms. 

The living quarters are located downstairs.

The living quarters are located downstairs.

The open-plan downstairs floor is big enough for a sitting area and a living room. 

The open-plan downstairs floor is big enough for a sitting area and a living room. 

There is even a private, greenery-filled backyard. 

There is even a private, greenery-filled backyard. 

The possibilities are endless in the lightly landscaped backyard. 

The possibilities are endless in the lightly landscaped backyard. 

The Ruby Street is currently listed for $3,249,000 by Juan Longfellow and Louise Leach of Deasy Penner Podley.

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Jennifer Baum Lagdameo
Dwell Contributor
Jennifer Baum Lagdameo is a freelance design writer who has lived in Washington DC, Brooklyn, Tokyo, Manila, and is currently exploring the Pacific Northwest from her home base in Portland, Oregon.

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